Breaking: Talks between Leafs/Sens on Matt Murray have escalated, according to trusted NHL Insider
Brace yourselves, Leafs Nation, because we could soon have a trade to announce between the Leafs and a heated Atlantic Division rival in the Ottawa Senators.
Per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Leafs and Sens have engaged in intensifying talks that would see 28-year-old Matt Murray coming over to Toronto. If such a deal were to be completed prior to Tuesday's buyout window closing, Murray would likely come at a discounted rate, with a sweetener added to the deal for the Leafs agreeing to take on the next two years of Murray's deal.
The news comes shortly after reports had surfaced that the Sens were trying desperately to move Murray before being forced to buy him out, which would have left the Sens with a total of $7.5M to pay out to Murray over the next 4 years, rather than a slightly lesser amount for just 2.
If the deal goes through, both the Leafs and Sens will be doing each other a favour, as the Leafs are in desperate need of a goaltender, while the Sens will be rid of Murray's retention by the time their window fully opens for contention in a couple of seasons. Freeing up some cap space this summer will also help the Sens to make a big free agency splash, such as landing big fish Claude Giroux, who is rumoured to have interest in signing in Ottawa.
